Armpit Lipoma Removal in Pune: Axillary Lipoma Surgery

What is an armpit lipoma?

An armpit (axillary) lipoma is a benign lump of fat cells in the armpit. Like lipomas elsewhere, it is soft, moves slightly under the fingers and grows slowly. In the armpit it can rub against the arm, ache with movement, make shaving awkward or show as a bulge in sleeveless clothes.

The armpit is a busy area. It contains lymph glands, blood vessels and nerves to the arm, and sometimes extra breast tissue. That is why a lump here is always assessed before it is removed.

What else can cause a lump in the armpit?

Cause	Typical features
Lipoma	Soft, smooth, not tender, slow-growing
Swollen lymph gland	Often tender; follows an infection or vaccination; usually settles within weeks
Skin cyst	Firm, round, under the skin, sometimes with a small dark opening
Abscess or infected hair follicle	Painful, red, warm, may discharge
Accessory breast tissue	Fullness that changes with periods, pregnancy or breastfeeding
Enlarged gland from another cause	Hard, fixed or growing, sometimes with night sweats, fever or weight loss

The last group is uncommon but needs prompt investigation, which may include ultrasound, blood tests or a biopsy.

Who may benefit, and how is the lump assessed?

You may be suitable for removal if the lump has been confirmed as a lipoma and bothers you, or if its nature is uncertain and removing it allows full laboratory examination.

At consultation the doctor will:

1. Ask how long the lump has been there and whether it changes in size.
2. Examine both armpits, the breasts and the neck for other lumps or glands.
3. Arrange an ultrasound, which shows whether the lump is fatty, a gland or a cyst, and how deep it lies.
4. Plan the incision in a natural crease of the armpit.

What are the treatment options?

Option	Suits	Points to consider
Observation	Small, confirmed lipomas causing no trouble	Lump remains
Excision through a crease incision	Most armpit lipomas	Removes the lump whole for laboratory examination
Liposuction	Selected soft lipomas	Small openings, but may leave tissue behind

For a lipoma elsewhere on the body, see lipoma removal; for several at once, see multiple lipoma removal.

How is armpit lipoma removal performed?

1. Marking: the lump is outlined with your arm raised.
2. Anaesthesia: local anaesthetic is injected around the lump; general anaesthesia is used for large or deep ones.
3. Incision: a cut is made in a natural armpit crease.
4. Removal: the lipoma is separated from nearby nerves, vessels and glands and removed whole.
5. Closure: the space is closed in layers, sometimes with a small drain, and a dressing is applied.
6. Laboratory examination of the lump.

How should you prepare, and what should you ask?

• Bring any previous scan reports.
• Tell the doctor about blood thinners and supplements.
• Avoid shaving the armpit just before surgery unless advised.

Questions to ask:

• Has the scan confirmed a lipoma?
• How close is the lump to nerves or vessels?
• How long should I limit arm movement and lifting?
• When will the laboratory report be ready?

What is recovery like?

Time	What to expect for most patients
Days 1-3	Soreness when moving the arm; keep the dressing dry
Days 2-3	Many return to desk work
About 1-2 weeks	Wound check; stitches removed if needed
About 2 weeks	Return to lifting and exercise as advised
Months 3-12	Scar fades in the crease

What are the risks?

• Bruising, haematoma or seroma (fluid in the space), sometimes needing drainage.
• Infection, slightly more likely in the warm, moist armpit.
• Numbness of the inner upper arm, usually temporary.
• Scar thickening, uncommon in the crease.
• Recurrence, rare after complete removal.

Contact the doctor for increasing swelling, redness, pus, fever, or new weakness or tingling in the arm.

What results can you expect?

Most people have a flat armpit contour and a scar hidden in the crease once healing is complete, and the laboratory report confirms the diagnosis.

What happens if an armpit lipoma is left untreated?

Once an ultrasound has confirmed a lipoma, leaving it alone is safe. It usually grows slowly and will not go away by itself. In the armpit, a growing lump rubs against the arm with every swing, which can cause chafing and soreness in hot, sweaty weather. A larger lipoma also needs a longer incision, and one lying close to the nerves of the arm may begin to ache.

The important exception is a lump that has not been checked. Waiting is not advised for an armpit lump that is hard, fixed or growing, or that lasts more than two to three weeks, because swollen glands from other causes need prompt assessment.

If you choose to wait, loose sleeves and keeping the area dry can reduce rubbing. See the doctor again if the lump grows, hardens, becomes painful, or you notice tingling in the arm.

Common myths about armpit lumps

• “Any soft armpit lump is a lipoma and can be ignored.” Swollen glands, cysts and extra breast tissue also cause armpit lumps, so each should be checked.
• “An armpit lump in a woman is always breast cancer.” Most armpit lumps are harmless, but every new one should be examined, sometimes together with the breasts.
• “Shaving the armpit causes lipomas.” Lipomas are fatty growths; shaving can cause infected hair follicles, which are tender lumps of a different kind.
• “Armpit surgery will weaken the arm.” Most people use the arm gently from the first day and return to lifting after about two weeks.

What affects the cost of armpit lipoma removal in Pune?

• Size and depth of the lipoma.
• Ultrasound or other scans before surgery.
• Anaesthesia: local or general.
• Laboratory examination and follow-up visits.